The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-12-17
THE BOY KEPT STEP.
BY oPrE P. READ.

THE BOY KEPT STEP.
 BY oPIE P. READ.
 The other day, while waiting at a desolate way station in Illinois for a train which seemed to have declared itself against schedule time and human patience, my attention was attracted by man and small boy who sat on bench near the end of the platform. The mans face bespoke oppressive weariaess, and the exhausted manner in which he leaned back against the station house showed that he had been subjected to some great strain. The boy was given to excessive liveli- ness. He found large barrel hoop, and, in turning it around for closer inspection, struck the man on the nose. Then, securing an old oyster can, he filled it with water from a neighbor- ing puddle and poured it on a carpet bag which some one had left on the platform. Then, wiping his hands on his clothes, he approached the man. The man sighed deeply and said:
 "Run along, now"
 "What for?"
 "Because I don't want you here. No, don't want you to put your arm around my neck" he added when the boy had climbed up on the bench. :" "I want to love you" ,"Well, you can love me without choking me. Look out, don't you put your muddy feet on me-"
 "Whyw
 Because l don't want you to, that's why"
 "Will people think you have been playing in the dirt?"
 "Yes."
 "Why will they?"
 Because they will"
 "Why will they will?"
 "Oh, get down and hush. You are sometimes the most foolish child ever saw"
 "Are you an Anarchist?" the boy asked when he had climbed down, not, however, without wiping his muddy feet on the mans pantaloons. "Of course not"
 "What is an Anarchist?"
 "A man who tries to destroy the law"
 "What law?"
 "The law of the land"
 "What land?"
 "This land"
 "This land right here?" pointing to the ground.
 "Yes."
 "Has this land right here got law?" "Yes."
 "What is law?"
 "It's a-a-rule of civil-that is look here, sir, are you going to hush and let me alone?"
 After short silence. "What is law for?"
 "To make people behave them selves"
 "Can I see the law if I go out there and look on the land2"
 "No."
 "Then how is it the law eff the land?"
 ''I don't know. Hush."
 "Then how do you know it is the law of the land?"
 'I don't want to box your ears, but Pm afraid that Pll be driven to it."
 "Box my ears because talk?"
 "Yes.'
 "And would you box my tongue because hear?"
 The man sprang to his feet and began to walk up and down the plat form. The boy followed, attempting to keep step with him. After while the man, glancing at his watch, mutt tered that the superintendent of the road ought to be hanged.
 'Is he Anarchist" the boy asked. "No."
 "Then why ought he to be hanged?" "Because he has no regard for the public"
 What's the public?"
 "The people,"
 "Am l the public"
 The man wheeled around and walked away. The boy kept step with him. The man resumed his seat on the bench. The boy found an old shoe, put it on and began to "scuff" around on the platform, pretending that he was lame. Then, declaring that he was horse, he began to gal lop. The old shoe flew off and struck the man on the head, just as he had taken off his hat to run a handker- chief over the polished surface cover ing his mine of thought.
 "I didn't go to do it," the boy ex- claimed.
 "Come here, sir, and sit down. Come here this instant. Sit down here, now, and don't let me hear an- other word out of you. This is the